NEDA RITZ APPOINTED CROATIAN RADIO-TELEVISION EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ZAGREB, June 16 (Hina) - The Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) Council at Friday's session endorsed by a majority of vote a decision on raising the television subscription free from 45 to 50 kuna (US$6.25). If ratified by the Economy Ministry, the decision becomes effective on July 1. The Council appointed Neda Ritz HRT editor-in-chief and relieved Croatian Radio editor-in-chief Ivanka Lucev of duty, at her own request. Explaining why the subscription fee had to be raised, HRT director Mirko Galic said television was in such a poor situation that rationalisation within the house alone was not enough to resolve the problems. According to Galic, it is imperative that subscribers and the government as the owner share the "crisis burden", besides HRT's staff. He said the government should also exempt the subscriber fee from Value Added Tax. Galic reminded HRT's subscriber fee was among the lowest in Europe, not changing since 1995. The present 45 kuna fee would run up HRT's losses to 400 million kuna (US$50 million) by year's end, he asserted. "Economic reasons impose a 60 kuna, and political ones a 50 kuna fee," the director said. With the 60 kuna fee, HRT would stop producing losses, while the 50 kuna fee will only reduce monthly losses from 16 to about ten million kuna (US$1.25 million). Although it had not been announced, the HRT Council today unanimously adopted Galic's motion to appoint former acting editor-in-chief Neda Ritz editor-in-chief. Asked why he supported Ritz among 13 candidates who applied for the post, Galic among else said "she can meet all the demands of the job." (hina) ha mm